23 February 2013

Hi friends, it's time to update this blog and move on to a new place.
I'll continue to add new arrivals and inspirations over here: SWORD+FERN TUMBLR and this spot will come to an end. Thanks so much for following here for the past 4+years.
I also have a new place I've been slowly adding archives of past projects, and revealing some yet-to-be- seen stuff, over here: BACKYARD MYTHOLOGY
xoxo see you soon.

Please come and enjoy some really new work I am showing, alongside a beautiful interactive sound installation by Pawprince, Kerby's new solo project!

Here is a sneak peek at some of the pieces /new lines I will be showing:

Sword + Fern presents "YOUJOY" as the concept of the night.

"YOUJOY" is Emily's current mantra-a playful aphorism she uses to describe her way of increasing our frequency of happiness and health, just by being yourself. YOUJOY means incorporating small delights into every day in a seamless, fluid motion via smart work: art, music, garden and object-making, thinking, loving, messing up and cracking up...in your own way that is just you.

Much of the new collections and the new line, Water Logic, are intuitively designed, and influenced by Emily's immersion into Shambhala Buddhist teachings, from favorite teachers Pema Chödrön and founder of Shambhala, Chögyam Trungpa.

From Shambhala.org:

"This (Shambhala) tradition teaches how to live in the (secular) world with courage and compassion.

Buddhism offers methods to clarify our mind, open our heart, and face the realities of human life, while the Shambhala teachings offer practices for rousing our life force and connecting with the natural power and energy of the phenomenal world. The combination of these wisdom traditions offers a contemporary, effective spiritual path. Following it, we can reclaim our natural birthright of wisdom and compassion, and work with others to bring about the best in human society."

For CONTENT 2012, Emily Baker has stepped away from the role of jewelry designer and ventured into the new territory of sculptural objects,and will debut “Water Logic”, a sparkling new line of conceptual sculptural objects and textiles that intrigue the visual and tactile senses.Tabletop pieces,textiles and wall hangings-jewelry for the home.

Creating mobiles, organically hung sculpture, and intricate displays for her brick and mortar shop over the years, Baker decided to go full force into creating a line of architectural objects for enjoying and displaying, keeping to her mainstay jewelry materials like wood, copper, brass, glass,and found ephemera, and using raw materials brand new to her such as concrete, mirrors, and silk textiles.

22 September 2012

In honor of the fall equinox and the change of seasons today, we have been stocking the NewWorld Apothecary with deep healing medicines for fall+winter.New in the shop:Medicine of the People-traditonal Navajo salves+creams,handmade by Virginia Boone in Marana, Arizona.

A brief history of their company:

”...In 1995 my partner Leonard Marcus and I started a company called Dine Be Azee (Medicine of the People), using traditional knowledge of Plants that was given to me by my father, Sam Boone.My memories of my dad selling herbs on the Navajo Reservation and of his belief that “in order to heal himself he had to help his people” were the inspiration for our company, medicine and products.For many years we have traveled to Powwows, Conferences and Native American events, selling herbs for medicinal and ceremonial use. We have crafted herbal salves and made creams, massage oils and tinctures from native plants we have gathered. As our company has grown we have added wholesale distribution in an effort to get our products out to a broader audience. Medicine of the people products are sold at over one hundred mostly Native American cultural centers, museums, casinos and health food stores across the country.”

I feel really lucky to be able to carry these healing medicines in S+F, come experience them soon. I first came across Medicine of The People in Tucson a few years ago,and am so happy to bring it home to share with Portland. Their pinon salve is the most amazing scent I have ever tried- sweet and spicy and feels like desert treasure.In stock now are their Pinon; White Sage; Juniper-Lavender-Sage;and Sore Joint salves, White Sage moisturizer, and Pinon Sap creams.The blends are traditional Navajo herbs in a beeswax/calendula base.Support First Nations Elders and buy their deep medicines.